Electric switch and stop for winding drums



C. F. CUNO.

ELECTRIC SWITCH AND STUP FOR WlNDING DRUMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21. I922.

1,422, 1 8 1 atented J uly 11, 1922.

IN VEN TOR.

Wiemw w efrfix thereon.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. CUNO, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE ING CORPORATION, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION Application filed March 21, 1922.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. CUNo, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Meriden, Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Electric Switch and Stop for Windin Drums, of which the following is a speciliiation.

My invention relates to improvements in winding devices for' trouble lamps, cigar lighters and other translating devices which are carried by a cord designed to be wound and unwound upon a s 001 or drum and particularly to a means WhlCh will hold the drum against rewinding when the cord is extended and the circuit is on. The present invention is primarily an improvement upon the structure set forth in Charles H. Cunos application, Serial No. 533,828, filed February 3rd, 1922, and it will be necessary herein to describe in detail only such features as constitute the improvement hereinafter claimed.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a device embodying the improvements of my invention, the parts being shown in the open circuit or ofl' position.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, the parts being shown in the closed circuit or on position.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the reel and combined latch and circuit closer, as shown in Fig. 2.

In describing the present invention I Wlll employ the same characters as used in the aforesaid application to designate corresponding parts herein.

5 re resents a suitable casing having the face p ate 6 with the outlet 7 for the cable indicated at C. 8 represents the hub of a rotatable drum or reel arranged within the housing and rotatable upon shaft 9. The flange 10 of'the drum contains the usual rewinding spring well known in devices of this kind and which serves to rewind the drum for the purpose of winding up the cable 11 is a binding post mounted on the casing. 12 is the other flange of the drum insulated from the flange 10 by the hub 8. The cable C comprises two wires one being connected to the flange 10 which is electrically connected with the binding post 11 by being grounded on the case, the other being connected to the flange l2. Alongside the flange 12 I mount a contact arm 13 which is electrically connected with Specification of Letters Patent.

CUNO ENGINEER- OF CONNECTICUT.

'ELEeTaIc swrrca AND sue you WINDING mums.

Patented July 11, 1922.

Serial No. 545,445.

an insulated binding post 15. ,This arm is normally moves away from the flan 12 unless held in contact therewith. Through the I medium of this arm 13 the circuit through the cable is opened and closed, that is to say, when the arm 13 bears against the flange 12, as shown in Fig. 2, the circuit is closed or on, and when it is disengaged therefrom the circuit is off or 0 en. In the particular form shown, I provi e means for disengaging the arm 13 from the flange 12 which comprises a slide 20 mounted in suitable guides to be moved to and fro by a suitablehandle or button 26. 16 is a strip of insulation which overstands the outside of the contact arm 13. Between the insulation and the arm 20 I provide a spacer preferably in the form of a ball 18. 21 is a depression n one part of the arm 20. The ball as shown in the former application referred to, is supported so that it may move only toward and from the flange 12. When the arm 20 is pushed in as shown in Fig. 1, the depression 21 stands over the ball allowing the latter to rccede sufficiently so that the arm 13 will not bear against the flange 12 (see Fig. 1). When, however, the button or handle 16 is pulled out the arm 20 pushes the ball or spacer piece 18 forwardly and forces the contact 13 into engagement with the flange 12 to close the circuit, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus far the parts described correspond with the similar parts described in the aforesaid application. My improvement comprises providing means which will operate to hold the reel a ainst rewindin when the circuit is closed thereby making it easy for the user to hold the lamp or other translating device (not shown) in its extended position. In the particular form shown, I have shown a hook 131 at the end of the arm 13 and I have provided the equivalent of ratchet teeth on the flange 12. In the particular form shown, these ratchet teeth are formed b striking in a portion of the metal of the ange on a bevel as indicated at 12-12 leaving one abrupt edge for engagement by the hook 13. In the drawings, it will be observed that I have shown four of such recesses. The number however is immaterial.

ln operation: Assuming the handle 26 is pulled out to close the circuit the hooked end 13 of the arm 13 will bear against the side of the flange 12. As the cable is pulled out the reel may freely turn in the direction of the arrow, the hooked end of the contact member riding up the several inclines of the ratchet teeth as the arm yields. If the cable is released it is obvious that the hooked end 13 of the arm will engage the abrupt wall of one or another of the said recesses and thereby hold the reel against rewinding until the hooked end 13 of the arm is disengaged from the flange 12. Just as soon as the operator presses the button in to move it to the open circuit position, the latch as I may term the hooked end 13*, leaves the reel free to rewind the cable thereon. By this very simple expedient I obtain at a minimum of expense a reliable and serviceable reel lock for the reel or drum.

It should be understood of course that I have shown the invention in a very crude and simple form and that I anticipate that many changes may be made therein without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

IVhat I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, a selfa'ewincling drum, a cable carried thereby and in circuit therewith, a circuit closer, means for manually operating the same and means cooperating with said circuit closer to lock the drum against rewinding when the circuit closer is in the closed circuit position and leaving said drum free to rewind when the same is in the open circuit position.

2. In a device of the character described, a self-\vinding reel, a cable for carrying a translating device mounted on said drum to unwind the same as the cable is extended, a combined circuitcloser and latch with means for manually operating the same to close the circuit throu h said cable and to engage said drum to old the same against rewinding while the circuit is on.

3. In a device of the character described, a selfqvinding reel, a cable for carrying a translating device mounted on said drum to unwind the same as the cable is extended, a combined circuit closer and latch with means for manually operating the same to close the circuit through said cable and to engage said drum to hold the same against rewinding while the circuit is on", saidcircuit closer comprising means arranged to bear against the side of said drum, with ratchets on the drum and a latch associated with said means for eoacting with said ratchets.

CHARLES F. (JUNO. 

